(The Hollywood Reporter) — China’s top media regulator on July 13 unveiled a tightening of controls on local broadcasters, saying it recently put a ban on partnerships between local radio and TV station operators with foreign media companies.
The new rule that took effect the previous week also blocks Chinese broadcasters from leasing channels to foreign firms, according to a notice on the Web site of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television.
Officials at big media and entertainment companies couldn’t be reached or declined comment on the new rule and its effects.
However, Reuters quoted Chinese news sources as saying that TV company Qinghai TV has announced that the new regulatory landscape had caused it to cancel plans to work with Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.
A News Corp. spokesman referred the matter to the conglomerate’s Hong Kong office. A spokeswoman there couldn’t be reached as of July 13.
It wasn’t immediately clear how other cooperation arrangements between big media companies and Chinese broadcasters might be affected by the new rule.
The latest SARFT rule change came just three months after Chinese authorities tightened controls on foreign investment and participation in broadcast and production ventures.
Chinese radio and TV station groups have been looking for foreign assistance in the form of capital and programming, as many have been losing government subsidies.
